How great are these wellness tours by G-Adventures really?

G-Adventures has launched a new series of tours "to introduce your inner traveller to your inner self." The tours are advertised as a way to "discover awe-inspiring destinations combined with rejuvenating activities like yoga and meditation, and healthy food experiences to recharge the body and nourish the mind."

We analyzed G-Adventures new wellness tours to see if they stand up to rigorous reviews by experienced travellers like us.

Wellness Bali

9 days from CA$1949

Rated average, 3 out of 5

Enter the tropical wonderland of Bali, long a beacon to travellers in search of uncovering their spiritual side. Start your journey inward with Canang in Ubud, a traditional offering given at Hindu temples, before immersing yourself in nine days of rejuvenating activities, healthy food, and captivating sights. From daily yoga practices to traditional Balinese healing ceremonies to stops at serene beaches (Pemuteran, Sanur), you will be entranced by Bali’s natural calming spirit that continues to lure people from all over the world seeking a deeper connection.

Adventure Coordinators verdict: There is no doubt Wellness Bali ticks all the boxes. The trip has a wonderful line-up of yoga classes, healthy food, meditation and cultural immersion. Yet the trip has plenty of relaxation time built in as well - think snorkelling in the warm waters or just reading a book. Take me on a Wellness trip to Bali.

Wellness Thailand

9 days from CA$2299

Rated average, 3 out of 5

From the moment you first feel the warmth of Thailand’s golden sun, you can’t help but take in the positive vibes. This nine-day tour immerses you in ancient restorative practices, yoga sessions, and healthy food that will leave your smile beaming and your soul stirring. Soak in the country’s culture of kindness with a dip in Pai’s hot springs and a visit to the birthplace of traditional Thai massage at the Wat Po Buddhist temple. Then you can kick the energy up a notch with an optional round of Muay Thai. Your journey ends in Koh Samui, where you’ll reflect inward while nestling your toes in the sand as the sun sets over the glittering ocean.

Adventure Coordinators verdict: we didn't think it would be much of an issue putting together a good wellness trip in Thailand. Yet it seems G-Adventures did have trouble. For starters, the pace leaves us breathless - you change hotel 4 times in 8 nights. The content is mostly yoga, eating and wandering around on your own. Disappointing but if you want to go, find Wellness Thailand here.

Wellness Italy - Rome & Tuscany

7 days from CA$2519

Rated average, 3 out of 5

If serenity has a palpable form, surely it can be found under the Tuscan sun. This seven-day tour of Italy will have you second-guessing your departure date from the moment you land in Rome. After a morning yoga session and a leisurely day on the grounds of Palatine Hill and the Colosseum, your path will take you to lush landscapes of Tuscany. There, you’ll have ample time to saunter through welcoming villages, taste exceptional local food and wine, and cycle your way through the Tuscan hills. A dip in healing thermal waters will leave a rejuvenating warmth radiating through both body and mind long past your final stop in Florence.

Adventure Coordinators verdict: This trip is a wonderful mix of seeing Italy's top sites, along with some great mindful activities. A welcome drink on a rooftop terrace in Rome? A yoga session on the grounds of Villa Borghese? A traditional Tuscan farm to table cooking class? A soak in thermal pools? Sign me up for Wellness Italy - Rome and Tuscany.

Wellness Colombia

8 days from CA$2349

Rated average, 3 out of 5

Discover the perfect balance of beautiful scenery and quiet contemplation over the course of a revelatory eight days in Colombia. Let your body flow in Cartagena with a yoga session and your mouth water on an included street food tour. Spend a day by the crystal clear waters on the Rosario Islands and then journey to your property outside of Tayrona National Park. There you’ll treat both body and mind to a hike and a healing visit to a sacred pools of Aluna Springs. Add in the option of daily yoga practices and you’ll soon find yourself reflecting on your Colombian adventure with complete clarity.

Adventure Coordinators verdict: we were curious where G-Adventures would take us on Wellness Colombia and this tour does not disappoint. While we are not sure about the hotel in Cartagena, the hotel in Koralia is one you'll want to stay at. If you are looking for a nice balance between cultural immersion and nature discovery, along with yoga classes in unique settings, Wellness Colombia is the trip for you.

Wellness Peru - Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley7 days from CA$1799
Rated average, 3 out of 5
Feel energy flow through your body with every step taken over the hallowed grounds of Peru. Your seven-day journey begins in the aptly named Sacred Valley with a taste of local food before a stand-up paddleboard takes you across pristine waters surrounded by towering Andean peaks. Each day has the chance for new discoveries with available yoga sessions, a hot springs visit, and the option to do the 1-day Inca Trail Hike. Finally, you can bask in the awe-inspiring beauty of Machu Picchu through an intentionally paced tour. As you absorb the mysterious power of these ancient ruins, you’ll head home with a renewed lift in your step.

Adventure Coordinators verdict: like the Wellness Thailand trip, Wellness Peru feels like a trip that G-Adventures decided they had to have in their line-up. But it isn't well thought out and as a result G-Adventures misses the Stand-up Paddle Board. This is a light sightseeing tour with some yoga thrown in. We could do without a visit to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes and we'll pass on this tour but if you do go on Wellness Peru, we hope you'll prove us wrong...

Wellness Costa Rica

8 days from CA$2199

Rated average, 3 out of 5

Simply say “Costa Rica” and vivid images of paradise instantly flood the imagination. This eight-day tour makes those dreams a reality while letting you connect with the country’s charming people. Your spirits will be lifted with a visit to Mi Cafecito Community Coffee Plantation, a G for Good project supporting 200 local farmers, before carrying on to the outdoor utopia that is La Fortuna. There you’ll be treated to a world of wellness, with yoga sessions overlooking the Arenal Volcano, hiking, free time for meditation, and a rejuvenating trip to thermal hot springs. Continue on to remote Rincón de la Vieja for more yoga and a therapeutic mud bath before a final stop in Playa Carrillo – home to a beach devoid of buildings, hotels, and restaurants that will give your mind a sense of clarity you may have previously thought impossible.

Adventure Coordinators verdict: A stand-up paddleboard yoga class? Learning how to hang 10 at a surf lesson? Pretty advanced stuff and not quite the R&R we were looking for. And wile we love Rincón de la Vieja for its remoteness, it is a long way to travel for a mudbath. To top it off, the trip ends in San José late afternoon when all flights back home have left. G-Adventures leaves you hanging on Wellness Costa Rica.

Wellness India11 days from CA$2899
Rated average, 3 out of 5
Imagine yourself awakening from a 5,000-year-long slumber. Your soul will feel similarly revitalized after uncovering the history of all things wellness in India. This 11-day tour covers some of the country’s most hallowed spiritual ground while also ensuring you catch the iconic sites of Northern India. Upon your arrival in Delhi, you’ll be introduced to the incredible diversity within India’s culture. Continue your discovery with a three-night stay at an ashram in Rishikesh where you’ll learn the history of yoga and meditation, before reaching Dharamshala, home of the Dalai Lama. As your eyes open on the final morning of your journey, you’ll see the world — and yourself — with a newfound warmth.

Adventure Coordinators verdict: my, there is a lot of travelling on this trip. And while there is yoga almost every day, that is just about the only wellness ingredient on this trip, which is more of a sightseeing trip dressed up in a cloak of wellness. The hotels are perhaps a tad too basic to - in a chaotic country like India G-Adventures might just want to use better hotels for their Wellness India.

Wellness Nepal13 days from CA$4299
Rated average, 3 out of 5
Seeking to attain inner peace? Mindful travellers come blissfully close on this 13-day tour of Nepal that envelops you in local culture and Buddhist history. Your adventure inward starts in Kathmandu with a calming visit to Boudhanath Stupa, one of the world's largest Buddhist shrines. From there, dive deeper into self-reflection mode with a two-night monastery stay that includes the option of meditation sessions with long-practicing monks. Then bring your newfound zen-ness to Buddha’s birthplace in Lumbini for an illuminating visit. Return to Kathmandu for one final night to reflect on everything you’ve learned about the country and yourself.

Adventure Coordinators verdict: we love the monastery stay and the opportunities G-Adventurws has created in this tour for less-privileged people in Nepal. And while the wildlife may disappoint, this is a good trip for some how would like to discover the soul of a country. Take me on Wellness Nepal.

Wellness Iceland7 days from CA$3284
Rated average, 3 out of 5
The otherworldly landscapes of Iceland offer perhaps the closest thing one can have to an out-of-body travel experience. Equal parts rugged and tranquil, the country’s beauty offers the perfect sanctuary from daily distractions back home. Your soothing journey across the country’s southern coast starts with a hike up Öskjuhlíð Hill overlooking the mosaic-like architecture of Reykjavik. Private transportation offers you the luxury of time to see the iconic sights of the Golden Circle and Thingvellir National Park before heading to the stunning black-sand beaches of Reynisfjara for a unique yoga session. And, of course, a visit to Iceland wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Blue Lagoon, a naturally-heated hotspot for travellers willing to go halfway around the world just to unwind.

Adventure Coordinators verdict: we had high hopes for this trip and G-Adventures didn't disappoint. A great mix of hikes with mindfulness meditation in stunning locations topped of with an adequate dose of treating yourself to a bath in thermal springs, Wellness Iceland is a great way to discover this country

Wellness Patagonia8 days from CA$3929
Rated average, 3 out of 5
Your arrival in Patagonia is at once stirring and a catalyst to take pause. The region’s geological wonders border vast open spaces that beckon both adventure- and soul-seekers from all over. With both relaxing morning yoga sessions and breathtaking afternoon excursions, this eight-day tour offers travellers of all types ample time to connect with this sublime part of the world. Healthy meals let you savour the finest local flavours, while hikes, kayaking, and horseback riding give you a taste of Mother Nature’s boundless potential for beauty. As you venture to Buenos Aires on the eve of your departure, don’t be surprised to find both body and mind sinking into a state of total tranquility.

Adventure Coordinators verdict: while this isn't the classic Patagonia of the deep south, this trip is a great trip for anyone wanting to get away from every day life on an estancia that look divine. Engage in some invigorating hikes and mindful activities before indulging in great food and a lovely hotel in Bariloche. Take me away from here on Wellness Patagonia.